City hall closes Hamilton's Founders Theatre
Tuesday, 1 March 2016
Hamilton's premier arts venue, Founders Theatre, has been closed due to health and safety concerns.
Hamilton City Council chief executive Richard Briggs made the decision to close Founders immediately after an independent assessment of the venue's flying system indicated it was at risk of failure.
Briggs said the closure was an interim measure and briefed elected members Tuesday afternoon.
About 25 bookings are affected by the closure, including Hamilton Operatic Society's upcoming production Mary Poppins.
The council could be liable for some costs associated with lost bookings.
'From today it's closed basically under further notice, until we do further work to ensure it is safe for use,' Briggs said.
The decision to close Founders was 'hugely disappointing' for everyone, Briggs said, but the safety of staff, theatre users and the public came first.
Last year, elected members voted to spend $13.8 million on a major refurbishment of Founders Theatre starting in 2021/22.
The theatre was opened in November, 1962, and has a seating capacity of 1250.
'Founders is 54 years old and a year ago we noted it was coming toward the end of its life,' Briggs said.
'It just got to the point that I don't believe it's appropriate to let staff and the public be exposed to any undue risk.'
The theatre's flying system holds production lights, drapes, scenery and stage effects as well as a fire safety curtain.
As recent as last year, arts groups, such as Creative Waikato, warned that unless the council completed urgent work to Founders, the city risked losing big cultural events.
Briggs couldn't say when the theatre would reopen but was keen to investigate a variety of options, including opening the venue on a limited basis.
He expected to present a report to elected members in March outlining various options for the venue and investment opportunities.
'It will consider what the future looks like in terms of remediation for Founders. Because I've closed it, it [report] does lend itself to having a broader discussion about the future of Founders,' Briggs said.
A 2013 residents' survey showed satisfaction with Founders had declined with scathing feedback on the lack of hot running water in the toilets, aged decor and uncomfortable seats.
In 2014, the council completed a review into the city's theatres resulting in the council gifting the Meteor Theatre and Clarence Street Theatre to community art trusts.